Explain in detail about "Asana & Pranayama". State its benefits.
Answers
Hatha yoga practices combine asanas (physical postures), pranayama (breathing exercises), concentration, and meditation. ... Thus, “hatha yoga” is the practice that enables a practitioner to balance his or her solar and lunar energies.
In one of the main texts on yoga, the Patanjali Yoga Sutra, Maharishi Patanjali explains a system of Yoga referred to as 'Ashtanga Yoga', because it consists of 8 (ashta) limbs (anga). It is important to note here that these are limbs, and not steps, meaning that it is not that one practices one after the other, but they all move together. The 8 limbs are: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi, so looking at it from this perspective the links between asana and pranayama is also the fact that both are parts of this important system of Yoga.
Practically, Asana refers to any posture that is 'steady' and 'pleasant' (Patanjali defines Asana as 'sthira sukham asanam'). By the right practice, one learns to be steady in any posture and enjoy it as well. There is physical effort, but no 'struggle' in the mind.
Pranayama basically refers to different ways of regulating the Prana (subtle life force energy) and because it is closely linked to the breath, these are basically breathing techniques. Pranayama is that which allows you to increase the Prana in the body and/or direct it in a certain way. As there is a close connection between the breath and the mind (if your state of mind changes, the rhythm in the breath also changes, and different emotions have different set rhythms in the breath), Pranayama becomes a very easy method to manage and quieten the mind.
To practice Asana properly, one's breathing needs to be smooth and mind needs to be peaceful. To practice Pranayama properly, one's posture needs to be steady and comfortable. They are thus both required for the practice of either one...
One could say that Asana is a way to strengthen the body and make it steady and still, and Pranayama is a way to improve the breathing and make the mind steady and still. Both these aspects are required if one wants to go deep in meditation and experience true Yoga (union of body, breath and mind, leading to the experience of one's true nature).
I hope this answers your question :-).